As I continue my look at all of the Hammer films currently out on bluray I’ve arrived at the adventure film famous for starring Raquel Welch. There’s no spoken word except for a little narration at the start of the film and the characters making some primitive communication. It’s been available to purchase since 2016, released by Studiocanal. So without further ado here’s my One Million Years B.C blu-ray review.
- One Million Years B.C (1966)
- Genre: One Million Years B.C Blu-ray Review
- Directed by Don Chaffey
- UK Rating PG
- Discs: 2 (Blu-ray & DVD)
- Released By Studiocanal
- Blu-ray Released: 24 October 2016
Plot
Following a successful hunting expedition Tumak (John Richardson) challenges the tribe’s leader and loses. Now an outcast he wanders the land until he comes under attack from a prehistoric creature. Fortunately for him another tribe is close by and one person in particular, Loana (Raquel Welch) risks her life to save him.
Style / Direction
The film was directed by Don Chaffey whilst the cinematography is handled by Wilkie Cooper. With no real spoken word only primitive noises it really relies on the filmmaking to convey the films storyline. Credit should also go to Ray Harryhausen who provided the special effects of the dinosaurs via the stop motion technique.
Music / Audio Effects
The music is composed by Mario Nascimbene and becomes an even more important element without any spoken words. It really does a good job of conveying the mood or action taking place on screen.
Acting / Characters
The film revolves around two main characters, those being played by Raquel Welch and John Richardson. Despite the limited dialogue between the two they do manage to create a certain chemistry which the story relies heavily on.
Cast
- Raquel Welch as Loana
- John Richardson as Tumak
- Percy Herbert as Sakana
- Robert Brown as Akhoba
- Martine Beswick as Nupondi
- Jean Wladon as Ahot
Conclusion: One Million Years B.C (1966) Film Review
In many ways this is a bit of an odd film that somehow works rather well. Whilst far from my favourite of the Hammer films it is if nothing else a well put together piece of filmmaking with striking visuals and an iconic looking Raquel Welch that lives long in the memory.
If you enjoyed my One Million Years B.C blu-ray review so far you may want to check out the following films:
- Night of the Demon (1957)
- The Witches (1966)
- Quatermass and the Pit (1967)
- To The Devil A Daughter (1976)
Conclusion: One Million Years B.C Blu-ray Review
Studiocanal deliver yet another flawless blu-ray release in terms of picture quality. There’s nothing to complain about, the image is sharp and there are no marks to report. On the extras side there’s a couple of interesting inverviews with Raquel Welch and Martine Beswick which provide some interesting insight into the making of the film.
Extras
- Raquel Welch Interview (12 mins)
- Martine Beswick Interview (15 mins)
- Stills Gallery
- Ray Harryhausen Stills, Storyboards & Artwork
Popcorn Cinema Rating:
One Million Years B.C (1966)
MOVIE RATING: WORTH WATCHING
BLU-RAY RATING: EXCELLENT
Purchase One Million Years B.C (1966) On Blu-ray
One Million Years B.C (1966) is available now on blu-ray.
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One Million Years B.C (1966) Trailer
For those of you yet to see the film I’ll leave you with a little taster…
Clip may not be representative of the blu-ray version
That just about concludes the One Million Years B.C blu-ray review. Will you be purchasing it on bluray? If you have any thoughts on this film you can leave them in the comment section below:
Summary: One Million Years B.C (1966) Blu-ray Review
Movie title: One Million Years B.C (1966)
Duration: 100 mins
Director(s): Don Chaffey
Actor(s): Raquel Welch, John Richardson, Percy Herbert, Robert Brown, Martine Beswick, Jean Wladon
Genre: Adventure
- Movie Rating
- Blu-ray Picture Rating
- Extras
Summary
Striking visuals and an iconic looking Raquel Welch means the film lives long in the memory.
Pros
- Hammer Film
- Excellent Blu-ray Release
Cons
- None
